Art, Dance Showcase The Center

Students will do more than entertain crowds at an open house on Friday that showcases the evening adult program sponsored by the City of Pembroke Pines.

Organizers want the performances and art exhibit to inspire others to sign up for the next round of classes, starting on Sept. 5.

The free event starts at 6:30 p.m. inside the Southwest Focal Point Senior Center, at 301 NW 103rd Ave. in Pembroke Pines. Adult evening classes have been held at the facility since 2003. The year-round program is available to residents and nonresidents, ages 18 and older.

The Student Art Exhibition and Open House, now in its third year, lets participants who have enrolled in the various visual and performing arts classes show the public what they've learned, said Helen Daniels, recreation supervisor of the city's community services department. "We are giving them a stage for their works," she said.

The open house will include demonstrations by salsa, self-defense and belly dancing students. Performers from the voice and guitar classes will also entertain. An art and creative writing competition will be held too, featuring works such as pottery, stained glass, mosaics, drawings and paintings.

Several instructors will be available to answer questions from prospective artists, singers and dancers who are interested in upcoming courses, workshops and other activities, Daniels said.

Since its inception, evening classes at the Southwest Focal Point Senior Center have become increasingly popular with the public, drawing in people from Broward and Miami-Dade counties, Daniels said.

The program began with 40 students in April 2003. "This spring, we had 1,250 students," she said.

The evening program has always had a heavy emphasis on arts and culture. Returning courses include pottery, salsa dancing and ballroom dancing -- all of which are extremely popular, Daniels said.

The pottery classes are taught by her husband, Leroy Daniels, one of the program's original instructors.

Most sessions last six weeks and are held between 6:30 and 7 p.m. on weeknights. Costs average from $32 to $42, Daniels said.

To accommodate more people, one-day sessions on Saturdays were introduced. Separate workshops for the fall will be on pottery glazing, digital music and preparing PowerPoint presentations.

"People work in the evenings, or they are involved with their children," Daniels said. "The Saturday schedule gives them another option."

Daniels believes the classes attract many people who want to discover their inner talents. "I always hear people saying they always wanted to do this or learn about that, but they didn't have the time," Daniels said. "These are personal enrichment courses. What better way to enrich your life, then with art and culture?"